The 2019 George Stevens Academy boys soccer team. Courtesy of Mark Ensworth
The 2019 George Stevens Academy boys soccer team includes, in front from left, Oliver Lardner, Adrian Marsh, Ryan Mitchell, Andrew Zenfanya, Austin Snow, Owen Vinall, Ezra Bramblett-Williams, Lars Hooper and Grayson Eaton. In back are Jharold Fernandez, Isaias Franco, Theodore Lesko, Noah Czuj, Benjamin Hallett, Parker Allen, Michael Moon, Aidan Stearns, Franklin Sealander, Cyrus Blake, Jonah Reay and Jed Sawyer
Blue Hill—The George Stevens Academy boys varsity soccer team is wide open this year after graduating eight players last June. This means the players and coach are still working to find the right player for the right position, as the season begins. For Coach Mark Ensworth, a player’s commitment can make the difference.
“So far the position battles have been tough,” Ensworth said. “We have a lot of players that can do a lot of different things. So these starting spots and playing time are going to come down to who wants it more and is willing to put in the work.”
Ensworth’s coaching philosophy is to “fit the system around our players’ strengths rather than shaping our players to fit the system.” This means the early season with a younger-than-usual team is a lot of trial and error to see “what our players do well and what they need to work on.”
The Eagle soccer team has a winning history, making the playoffs seven times in the last nine years, including a run to the regional finals in 2017. In 2018, the senior-driven team made it to the quarterfinals before falling to rival Orono in a game that had to be played twice.
“Our goal is always to make a long run in the tournament,” Ensworth said. “Class C should be very competitive this year. So, if we want to compete, our level of play will need to match that.”
Adding to the team equation is an athletic participation policy adopted by GSA last year that offers players more academic chances before being taken off a team but also may keep them benched for a week or two when grades have fallen. Team members are also benched or removed from the team as disciplinary response to student behavior against school policy.
“It’s always disappointing when kids fail to do the things necessary to stay eligible,” Ensworth said. “As a coach, we try to keep them focused on their studies, but it’s ultimately up to them to decide if they will take being a student seriously or not. We try to be deep so that when opportunities present themselves, our players are ready to step up.”
The Eagles scrimmaged Class A Hampden Academy August 31, giving Ensworth a chance to test players in a live game and firm up starting spots, something Ensworth said he hasn’t yet decided on. From practice and the preseason game, Ensworth concluded, “we play well in spots. Getting more consistent in our intensity and toughness is our current focus.”
The Eagles kick off the varsity season on Saturday, September 7, at Searsport, with their first home game Tuesday, September 10. Start time for both games is 4 p.m.